The Manitoba Bison men's hockey team looks towards the start of the 2008-09 season by announcing both assistant coaches and goalie coach will return for a second consecutive season. Assistant coaches Billy Keane and Rob Friesen along with goalie coach Sonny Mignacca have renewed their commitment to the program for the upcoming campaign.

Bison men's hockey head coach Don MacGillivray stated, “This is important for the program to have continuity and stability in the coaching rank. I am happy that all three with return to Bison Hockey as they bring tremendous amount of hockey knowledge plus they are familiar with the team and what we want to accomplish this season.”

Keane is a N.C.C.P. Coach (Advanced 2) and is no stranger to the Bison hockey program. He played for the Herd from 1986-89 and joined the team as an Assistant Coach, a position he held until 1999. Keane then moved on to be a Head Coach in the MJHL from 2000-04. Keane is presently the Manager of Programming, Dakota Development Camps and the Head Coach, On Ice Training, Optimal Training Academy. Keane has also been a guest coach for many teams including the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Friesen played with the Bison hockey program from 1989-1992. During that span, the Winnipeg native amassed a total of 107 points in 106 games, finishing in the top 10 in Canada West in scoring in both the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. Following his career at Manitoba, Friesen spent three seasons overseas in Great Britain, one in Germany and parts of four seasons in the ECHL and the former WPHL. In the Western Professional Hockey League, he wore many different hats with the Monroe Moccasins and the Abilene Aviators including player, player assistant coach as well as assistant general manager.

Mignacca is a veteran hockey person with playing and coaching experience. He spent four years with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers and was drafted 213th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 1992. After turning professional he split his time between the AHL and the ECHL from 1994-1997 spending parts of two seasons with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League during that span. In 1997, Mignacca moved overseas, playing two years in England before returning to North America to finish his career with the Tupelo T-Rex of the WPHL. Mignacca started the International Goaltender\'s School after his playing career.